Q:  What is Garagista?

A:   At heart, we’re trying to help people like us discover (and re-discover) music worth hearing.  There’s lots of great stuff out there, but sifting through the tsunami of material can be tough.  We want to be a trusted filter, a guide, for “fellow travelers” who really love music, and who get a genuine thrill out of finding – and sharing – music that excites them.

Q:  Are you a record label?

A:  Sometimes.  We love to find new talent, and sometimes we help them release their records.  When we do, it’s on the Garagista label, as with Local Dialect and Hancock Place (which we also produced).

Other times, music comes to us completely finished, with distribution already in place.  In that case, we’re more like an old-fashioned neighborhood record store, picking things we really like and telling our friends about it.

Either way, we just want to help spread the word about really good music.

Q: What kind of music do you feature?

A: Basically, we go where the road takes us.  We’re open to anything, as long as it’s good. 

Q: What kind of deal do you offer the artists?

A: For the most part, when we sell finished music we split the sale 50/50 with the artist (or label) who brought it to us.  When we create music for the Garagista label, we are partners with the artists, sharing all the expenses and profits.  Some deals are different, but that’s our basic approach.

Q: What are the technical specs for submissions?

A: We’re pretty flexible, but suffice to say that the songs should sound like they belong on a commercial release.

Q: How can I submit my music?

You can mail a CD to Garagista Music, PO Box 238, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522; or you can submit MP3’s online in the “Submit Your Track” section of this site.

Q: Who runs the company?

A: Al Cattabiani and Scott Freiman own and operate the company. 

Al has spent his career distributing high-quality films, TV programs, DVDs and music.  Most notably, he was co-founder and CEO of Wellspring Media – now controlled by The Weinstein Company – which built a large library of prestigious foreign-language and arthouse films.  Earlier, he was president of LA-based Pacific Arts Corporation, best known for creating the PBS Home Video label.  Since selling Wellspring, Al has been active in a variety of media startups, all with a focus on using new technology to bring worthy material to discerning audiences.  He has been an active musician for over 30 years.

Scott is a composer, arranger, producer, and sound editor, as well as the owner of Second Act Studio, a state-of-the-art music and video studio for composition, recording, and production. The “second act” refers to Scott’s previous role as CEO of CMSI, a publicly-traded software company.

Scott has composed music for several features and short films, and his original compositions have been performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.  He has also acted as sound editor and designer for several films, including the award-winning Encounter Point.  He has produced music in a wide variety of styles, including Lisa Lynne Mathis’ Hancock Place, which was recorded at Second Act Studio.

Q: Where does the name come from?

A: Garagista is Italian slang for someone who makes wine, literally or figuratively, in his (or her) own garage. It’s a labor of love – infused with passion and homemade flavor. The garagista is a craftsman whose work can easily rival the output of the largest producers.

More questions? Send an email to mail@garagistamusic.com.